PARIS: Indonesia gears up for T-50

Indonesia will receive its full complement of 16 Korea Aerospace Industries T-50 Golden Eagle advanced jet trainer aircraft between September 2013 and February 2014.

The disclosure was made by a company spokesman at the company's chalet.

Jakarta ordered 16 T-50s in May 2011, marking the first export sale for the type, which is powered by a single General Electric F404 engine.

Indonesian pilots and maintenance crews are in South Korea familiarising themselves with the type.

In addition, KAI is confident of closing a deal with the Manila for 12 FA-50s, an armed variant of the T-50. Manila will use the type both for training and as a light fighter/attack aircraft.

The company, in co-operation with Lockheed Martin, is also competing against the Alenia/Aermacchi M-346 and BAE Systems Hawk for an eight aircraft requirement in Poland.

Warsaw is reviewing the technical proposals issued by the three companies, and will issue another request for proposals for pricing information in the coming months. A decision could come as soon as early 2014.

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